The following are the top stories in the Maltese and overseas press:

The Times leads with the murder of a 61-year-old woman in Cospicua and the serious injury of another two. It also reports that the Attorney General has advised that the striking off of EU nationals from the electoral register was unlawful.

The Malta Independent leads with the fatal stabbing in Cospicua and the tragic death of a motorcyclist.

In-Nazzjon features the Cospicua murder and a request by the Prime Minister to the Electoral Commission for the reinstatement of EU nationals resident in Malta who were struck off the electoral register. It also reports a vice president of the European Commission insisting that migration is a problem for all the EU.

l-orizzont gives details of the murder in Cospicua.

The Press in Britain

FT Weekend shows how US banks have moved rapidly to plug the sector's $74.6 billion €55.7 billion) capital hole uncovered by government stress tests, with Morgan Stanley and Wells Fargo raising $11.5 billion (€8.5 billion) in one day. The Guardian reports Bank of England concern that the UK's banking system is heading for a third wave of crisis that could snuff out fragile signs of recovery in the economy.

The Times says thousands of credit-crunch hit Britons joining the army to avoid the recession.

The Daily Telegraph features the second raft of MPs' expenses claims made by the health, care, tourism and immigration ministers. The latest disclosures also involve a senior Tory figure for the first time, shadow climate change minister Greg Barker.

The expenses row runs on the front of the Daily Express.

A humorous picture of a "gravy train" carrying MPs features on the front of the Daily Mirror along with more expenses revelations.

The Daily Star runs an exclusive about how Simon Cowell being confronted with naked contestants in Britain's Got Talent.

And elsewhere...

In his first Middle East tour as a self-proclaimed pilgrim of peace, Pope Benedict has expressed deep respect for Islam. Jordan Times reports that the Pontiff praised Jordan as a leader in efforts to promote peace in the region and dialogue between Christians and Muslims. The Pope will also visit Israel and the Palestinian territories during his week-long tour.

Calgary Sun says Canada has revealed the first death from swine flu - a woman from northern Alberta, who was in her 30s and also had other medical conditions.

Cesky Noviny reports a new interim government led by Jan Fischer has taken office in the Czech Republic, ending weeks of uncertainty following the fall of the previous administration of Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek.

O Globo says Northern Brazil's worst floods in decades have killed 39 people and driven more than 260,000 from their homes to seek refuge.

California Globe reports that powerful winds have pushed a raging wildfire to the doorstep of Santa Barbara, leading to the evacuation of more than 20,000 people.

USA Today says the crown of the Statue of Liberty will reopen on July 4 to the public for the first time since the 9/11 terror attacks. The pedestal and lower observation deck have since been reopened.

New Straits Times reports that a suspected leader of an Islamic terror group responsible for the 2002 Bali bombings that left 202 people dead has been arrested in Malaysia, more than a year after his escape from a Singapore jail.

Kentucky Times says US federal jury has convicted a former soldier of raping and fatally shooting a 14-year-old girl after killing her parents and younger sister while he was serving in Iraq.

According to Jakarta Post, two rare Sumatran elephants believed to have been poisoned with cyanide-laced pineapples were found dead in the jungles of northwestern Indonesia with their tusks removed.

El Nacional says that the Dominican Republic's Electoral Commission has rejected a proposal to ban any names that could be confusing or give no indication of gender. A judge had called for a crackdown on unusual names after the country's civil registry showed some families were naming their offspring after cartoon characters and car brands. One family named their girl Mazda Altagracia. The commission said it is not appropriate for the government to dictate what parents name their children.